China vows to keep up military pressure on the Philippines as territorial dispute grows tenser (apnews.com)
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the country will maintain military pressure on the Philippines amid a dispute over sovereignty in the South China Sea that could involve U.S. forces defending their treaty partner....
Young Koreans Grow Poorer as Interest Rates Rise (english.chosun.com)
India's Parliament votes on key bills with over 140 opposition members suspended (www.npr.org)
The case of al-Shifa: Investigating the assault on Gaza’s largest hospital (www.washingtonpost.com)
Weeks before Israel sent troops into al-Shifa Hospital, its spokesman began building a public case....
Anti-war candidate Duntsova applies to run in election against Russia's Putin (www.reuters.com)
China puts brake on US$6.5-billion currency swap amid Milei tensions | Buenos Aires Times (www.batimes.com.ar)
Israel claims to uncover Hamas command center in Gaza City as cease-fire talks gain momentum (apnews.com)
Philippines rebukes China over South China Sea claims (www.reuters.com)
The Philippine defence minister rebuked China on Wednesday for accusing his country of provoking tension and stirring trouble in the South China Sea, saying only Beijing believed what it was saying....
Narendra Modi responds to assassination claims (www.ft.com)
Narendra Modi has for the first time responded to allegations of an Indian assassination plot in the US, saying he will “look into” any evidence but a “few incidents” would not derail US-India ties....
US announces naval coalition to defend Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks (www.theguardian.com)
Egypt and Saudi Arabia notably absent from Operation Prosperity Guardian as more shipping companies forgo route...
China’s youth compete for stable gov’t jobs in unstable economic times (www.aljazeera.com)
The number of candidates taking China’s civil service exam reaches a record high as graduates seek secure jobs.
UK MP Layla Moran's family among hundreds trapped in Gaza church (www.bbc.com)
UK MP Layla Moran says her relatives are among hundreds of civilians trapped in a Catholic Church in Gaza City as Israeli forces operate nearby....
Details of thousands of individuals referred to the government’s controversial anti-radicalisation Prevent programme are being shared far more widely than was previously known (www.theguardian.com)
The stated aim of Prevent, which is a voluntary programme, is to divert people from terrorism before they offend. Most people do not even know that they have been referred, with about 95% of cases resulting in no further action.
Iran lifts visas for 33 countries including Vietnam (e.vnexpress.net)
Australia signs sweeping security pact with PNG as China continues push for policing influence in Pacific (www.abc.net.au)
Prime ministers Anthony Albanese and James Marape meet in Canberra to deepen security ties with a pact that has a status like a treaty, while Beijing continues its push to expand policing ties with Pacific Island countries and regional defence chiefs discuss a joint military response group.
Why Israel’s top court is greenlighting a civil rights crackdown (www.972mag.com)
More sanctions on Russia agreed by EU leaders (www.reuters.com)
Ukraine’s European allies are letting it down (www.cnn.com)
Before the war between Israel and Hamas took over virtually all of the international community’s attention, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was the most pressing crisis diplomats were seeking to solve....
Police officer stoned to death after rescuing FGM survivors in Kenya (www.theguardian.com)
Israel’s mass arrest campaign sows fear in northern Gaza (www.scmp.com)
Will more assertive Philippine approach to South China Sea pay off in long run? (www.scmp.com)
China grabs neighbor's land while negotiating border deal (www.newsweek.com)
Military, Coast Guard turning Philippines into world's laughingstock (www.manilatimes.net)
More Hongkongers want to move overseas or to mainland China, survey finds (www.scmp.com)
